![An Account of a Journey in Kashmir by David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer and Letters from Emily Overend Lorimer to her Parents sent from Bahrain and Kerman [‎376r] (771/1291)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000323.0x0002bc/Mss Eur D922_1_0771.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "An Account of a Journey in Kashmir by David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer and Letters from Emily Overend Lorimer to her Parents sent from Bahrain and Kerman [‎376r] (771/1291)")
An Account of a Journey in Kashmir by David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer and Letters from Emily Overend Lorimer to her Parents sent from Bahrain and Kerman [376r] (771/1291)
The record is made up of 2 files (630 folios). It was created in 1898-1914. It was written in English and Persian. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
suddenly and arbitrarily isuudi an idict laying down a lot
of conditions which arn to bo oboorvod in >vory workroom —
windows, doors ; faros, sop&rato rooms for boy and gdrl workers
otc . o tc #' a numb jr of things admirable in thomswlvoa
whore it would be possible to carry them out. Heavy ponaltit.
attach to the breach of those regulations and no time is
allowed for the improvem.nts and no consideration for the
fact that in most Persian houses the lighting and ventilation
is ail don > from the r'oof and that the walls are surround id
on all sides by other rooms so that the command to make
windows is a manifest absurdity, similarly the ord *r for
separate rooms wh ere from time immemorial boys and girls have
sat working at the same carpet from the same pattern aid you
cannot separate thmn without doubling your whole establishment.
But none af these things have been taken into account, or rather
they probably have. The D.G. will now appoint a lot of Inspec
tors (who will pay him a handsome^each for the privilege) they
will go round and take bribes for not reporting irregularities
and "teaches oi the regulations and thus handsomely r scoup them
selves for what they paid the D.G., the workpeople will work
in precisely the sam-i conditions as before at a slightly reduced
wage for of course the employer will'have to ro-imburs; himslef
what he pays the -j-nspector. You will admit that the scheme
is ingenious, ghe more so that it puts anyone obj cting to it
into the invidious position of appearing to oppose most salutary
and desirable reforms. The D,G. has also devised another means
of making money. The carpets are sold by the •’zer" a measure
which varies from 56 to 58 centimeters. Though it varies,
all the carpet-w.savers and traders know perfectly well that
such a buyer uses the zer of 56 and such another the zer of 57
centimeters and th *re is no re a. anbiguity in the matter. But
the philanthropist says: Think low the poor people are defrauded
by this difference in the zer; Let us make a standard zer.
He accoi'ding gets a lot of iron rods made (worth a few pence
a pice). He doesn't even measure them to s >0 that they are
"standard" and there are no two exactly the same length, but he
issues orders that every work- 100 m in the town and villages must
buy a "standard zer", sealed with his seal at a price of something
over two Shillings and also a copy'(on cheap paper) of his
"
factory
An East India Company trading post.
acts" price 4^= . 'Tils will bring hima ci^ar profit
of two shillings or . so on each wo rkroom. At least it would
arithmetically do so, but in fact the whole carpet-population
is standing on its hind—legs dd threatening a strike and a riot
etc. etc. and the D.G. will a.most certainly have to retract it
About this item
- Content
This file consists of two separate physical files as follows:
1) An account of a journey in Kashmir in 1898-99 written by David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer of the Indian Army. His account is entitled 'Three Months of Privilege Leave'. It contains his observations on the languages, peoples, transport, flora and fauna, trade and climate of the region. There are occasional edits and corrections to the original text marked in red pen. The Persian language material in the file is a proverb written on folio 194.
In addition to this travel diary, the following is enclosed: an essay by Lorimer entitled 'Modern Education' dated 9 February 1895 (folios 1-24); two copies of a pamphlet that was published 'for private circulation' in memory of David's brother, John Gordon Lorimer, following his death on 8 February 1914 (folios 255-262); and another essay by Lorimer entitled 'Our Indian N.W. Frontier - a study in a bye-gone Civilisation. A forgotten Chapter of Frontier History' (folios 221-253).
2) Copies of letters that were sent from Emily Overend Lorimer to her parents, Thomas George Overend and Hannah Kingsbury. The letters describe the lives of Emily and her husband, David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer (referred to as 'Lock' in the letters), while living in Bahrain from October 1911 until November 1912 (folios 263-310) and in Kerman from January 1913 until November 1914 (folios 313-634). David served as Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in Bahrain 1911-12 and as HM Consul, Kerman and Persian Baluchistan, 1913-14.
The letters discuss a range of topics including Lorimer's observations of local customs, food, climate, scenery and festivals; the couple's domestic life and arrangements (especially their servants, who are often discussed in racialised, insulting language); and her interactions with other non-local residents. Also discussed are Lorimer's reading habits, her and her husband's health, family news and, occasionally, world events and political developments.
On folios 322-324, the file contains a description of a walk around Kerman in March 1914 that is accompanied by a sequence of six small black and white photographs of various points in the journey (folios 315-321).
In addition to these letters, the file also contains a number obituaries and letters of condolence written upon the death of David's brother, John Gordon Lorimer, on 8 February 1914 (folios 299-302, 415-416 and 543-544).
On folio 417, the file contains an obituary of David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer published in an unknown newspaper following his death on 26 February 1962.
- Extent and format
- 2 files (630 folios)
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: this file consists of two physical volumes. The foliation sequence commences at the front cover of volume one (ff 1-262) and terminates at the inside back cover of volume two (ff 263-634); these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
- Written in
- English and Persian in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
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An Account of a Journey in Kashmir by David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer and Letters from Emily Overend Lorimer to her Parents sent from Bahrain and Kerman [376r] (771/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946969.0x000093> [accessed 21 June 2026]
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- Reference
- Mss Eur D922/1
- Title
- An Account of a Journey in Kashmir by David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer and Letters from Emily Overend Lorimer to her Parents sent from Bahrain and Kerman
- Pages
- 263r:298v, 303r:306v, 309r:391v, 393r:411v, 418r:542v, 545r:634v
- Author
- Lorimer, Emily Martha
- Copyright
- ©Munro Family
- Usage terms
- Creative Commons Attribution Licence